Cattle-guard.



Na. 790,224 PATENTED MAY 16, 1905.

r W. H. PARKER.

' GATTLE'GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 6, 1904.

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No. 790.224. PATENTED MAY 16; 1905. W. H. PARKER.

CATTLE GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 6,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES Patented May 16, 1905'.

WILLIAM H. PARKER, OF MABEN, MISSISSIPPI.

CATTLE-GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,224, dated May 16, 1905.

Application filed December 6,1904. Serial No. 235,699.

To all whom it may concern:

1 Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. PARKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at M'aben, in'the county of Oktibbeha and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cattle-Guards; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in cattle-guards for railways.

It has for its object'to provide a device of this class which is so arranged that it cannot injure the animal as it is raised by him into position and which is simple in construction, cannot get out of order, and is durable.

The invention consists in the details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims concluding this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of railway provided with my improved cattle-guard, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line :0 w of Fig. 1 with the guard raised. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line y y of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a side view.

While the preferred embodiment of my invention is fully shown in the accompanying drawings .and its construction is clearly described in this specification, I reserve the right to make such changes from the construction shown and described hereinas the scope of the claims hereto appended will permit.

In carrying out my invention I provide pivoted platforms, one extending between the rails and one outside each rail. The outer platforms are supported on side plates resting upon cranks on the guard-frame-carrying shaft. Said platforms are connected to the middle platform by rods or bars having offset portions passing beneath the rails, whereby said platforms are prevented from being raised out of place. Each section of the guard-frame is composed of side and top bars, between which is woven barbed wire from top to bottom. Said guard-frame-carrying shaft carries a lug adapted to engage a spring as said frame is raised to an upright position, whereby the velocity of the upward movement of said frame is reduced and its return below the level of the top of the rails is assured.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 represents the rails of the track resting upon ties 2, to the ends of one of which are secured arms 3, atthe ends of which are pivoted side plates 4.. The free ends of said side plate rest upon a crank 5 of a shaft 6, running transversely of the track just below the rails. Said shaft has its bearings in plates 7 and carries the guard-frames 8, made, preferably,of a metallic framework 9, with strands of barbed wire 10 woven therebetween. Said shaft also has a lug or arm 11 adapted to engage the end of a plate-spring 12, secured to the ties, preferably between the rails. The spring is preferably bent downward at the lug-engaging end, and the tie arranged below it is cut away, as at13, to provide room therefor and for the passage of the lug on the shaft as it rises to engage said spring.

The several platforms are secured to crossrods 14, passing under the rails and turned down at their ends, where said rods engage notches 17 in the upper edge of the pivoted side plates. By this means the platforms are effectually retained in position.

By providing the spring 12 thereturn of the guard-frame is assured and does not depend solely on gravity, as in most guards of this nature. The spring,'furthermore, retards the upward movement of said frames to some extent and cushions the same as they reach their upright position, preventing them from rising with sufficient force to injure the animal or the frame itself. Another advantage of my invention is the form of the guard, the barbed wire extending from top to bottom interrupting the passage of hogs, dogs, or other small animals, as well as cattle.

The platforms are made of such length as to permit a cow when running to pass over them without raising the frames far enough to stop her. Thus if she is running before a train' and is going too fast to turn off at the crossing she is not trapped, but is allowed to pass on down the track with a second chance of escape farther on. It will be noted that as the frames when down extend away. from the platforms cattle are always permitted to pass from up the track to the crossing, because when their fore feet reach one of the platforms their hind feet are upon one of the frames, preventing it from being raised.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a device of the character described, a platform, a guard-frame-carrying shaft having a crank engaged by said platform and by means of which said shaft is revolved to raise the frame, said shaft having a lug, and a spring arranged above said lug, said spring standing normally out of engagement with said lug but adapted to be engaged thereby when the guard-frame is raised, for the purpose specified.

2. In a device of the character described, a series of platforms arranged across the track and connected together by bars having offset portions extending below the rails, side pieces supporting said bars at each side, a guardframe-carrying shaft having shanks engaged by said side pieces and by means of which said shaft is revolved to raise the frame, and

means to insure the return of the guide-framecarrying shaft to its normal position.

3. In a device of the character described, a series of platforms arranged across the track and connected together by bars having ofiset portions extending below the rails, side pieces supporting said bars at each side, a guardframe-carrying shaft having cranks engaged by said pieces and by means of which said shaft is revolved to raise the frame, said shaft having a lug, and a spring adapted to be engaged by said lug for the purpose specified.

4. In a device of the character described, a platform, a guard-frame-carrying shaft having a crank engaged by said platform and by means of which the shaft is revolved to raise the guard-frame, said shaft having a laterallyextending lug, and a plate-spring secured to a fixture and having one end arranged above said lug, said spring standing normally out of engagement with said lug but adapted to be engaged thereby when the guard-frame is raised, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix mysignatu re in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. PARKER.

Witnesses:

Geo. A. HUTCHINSON, W. CLARENCE DUVALL. 

